Hole 4 at Balboa Park Municipal Golf Club

Par 4 • 375 Yards • San Diego, California

Enhanced Content

Moderate

The 4th hole at Balboa Park stands as one of the most challenging tests on Frank Szarfinzky's century-old Golden Hill Golf Links design. Known among locals as a consistently tough hole that demands respect, this par 4 has been humbling golfers since the course opened in the early 1900s.

Tees:

375y324y281y

Green:15y × 29y

Fairway @250y:33y wide

dogleg

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Balboa Park Municipal Golf Club

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Hole Stats

Par: 4
Yardage: 375 yds
Green: 2015 sq ft
Course Slope: 127
Course Rating: 71.1

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Strategy Tips

tee shot

With consistent fairway width of 33 yards at both 200 and 250 yards, this hole rewards accuracy over distance. Focus on finding the fairway center rather than trying to bomb your drive, as the relatively short 375-yard length means a controlled 200-yard tee shot leaves a manageable mid-iron approach.

approach

The compact 2015 square foot green (15y x 29y) demands precise approach shots. With no bunkers protecting the green, focus on club selection and distance control rather than worrying about hazard avoidance. The narrow 15-yard width means missing left or right will likely leave difficult recovery shots.

green

The green's rectangular dimensions of 15 yards wide by 29 yards deep create a target that's nearly twice as long as it is wide. Play to the center of the green and let the pin position determine your strategy - when the pin is front or back, you have more margin for error than when it's tucked to either side.

tee shot

At 375 yards total length, this hole plays shorter than many modern par 4s. A conservative 200-yard drive leaves only 175 yards to the pin, making this an excellent scoring opportunity if you can find the 33-yard wide fairway. Consider hitting 3-wood or hybrid off the tee for better accuracy.

approach

With no bunkers identified around the green, the primary challenge is hitting and holding the small 2015 square foot putting surface. Take one extra club and swing smoothly to ensure you carry any front-edge collection areas, as short-sided recoveries around this compact green will be difficult.

train this shot at home

This 375-yard par 4 is ideal for working on your driver accuracy. Launch monitors from $600 let you practice this exact shot with real course data from home.

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Scoring Tip

Focus on getting your approach inside 20 feet. Two putts from there and you walk away with par.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best strategy off the tee?

For this 375-yard par 4, most players will hit 3-wood or driver to set up a comfortable approach.

How difficult is hole 4?

This hole is a good scoring opportunity for most golfers. Key challenges include: small green.

How big is the green on hole 4?

The green is small and requires precision. The green is deeper than wide, so club selection is crucial. Expect challenging pin positions with limited room for error.

What's a good score on hole 4?

This hole is a medium-length test where par is a solid result. A straightforward par 4 where course management pays off.

Can I practice hole 4 on a golf simulator at home?

Yes — many modern launch monitors and simulators include real course data for Balboa Park Municipal Golf Club. You can play this exact 375-yard par 4 shot-by-shot at home. Entry-level options like the SkyTrak+ (around $2,500) and Garmin Approach R10 (around $600) support course play, while premium systems from Trackman and Foresight offer tour-level accuracy. Most systems pay for themselves in a season or two versus green fees and range balls. Shop home golf simulators →